Support



Feb. 14, 1939.

' B. c. HASKEN SUPPORT Filed July 6, 1957 5 Sheets-Sh et l N VENTOR mo/v C. 1723mm Feb. 14, 1939. 5 c H K N 2,147,030

SUPPORT Filed July 6, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BYPON C. HASK/N ATTO IVE) Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Warner Bros. Picture s, Inc., New York, N. Y., a

corporation of California Application July 6, 1937, Serial No. 152,229

11 Claims.

This invention relates to supports and has particular reference to apparatus for supporting objects to be rocked or moved during photographing thereof by a motion picture camera.

The invention is particularly applicable to the production of composite motion pictures of the type wherein a previously photographed background component is projected upon the rear of a translucent screen with the foreground component, generally including actors and other foreground objects, situated in front of the screen. The combined foreground component and projected background picture are photographed by a motion picture camera directed toward the front of the screen to obtain a motion picture film which when processed and projected in the usual manner appears to have had the two components simultaneously photographed thereon from the same point of view.

In the majority of photographic procedures of the above type the foreground component must be moved during photographing in such a manner as to harmoniously correspond with the projected background component or at least to simulate a natural movement of such foreground component. Pictures which generally come under this class are the so-called taxi shots" wherein a vehicle, for example an auto having occupants therein, comprising a foreground compo- 30 nent, is photographed in front of a translucent screen having projected thereon from the rear a background picture of a road or runway on which the auto apparently is traveling. Herein it is necessary not only to jostle the auto during 35 the photographing to simulate movement thereof over bumps, etc., but the auto must also be turned to face in the same direction as the projected picture of the road at every instant. That is, where the road is depicted as extending transversely across the optical axis of the camera or apparent viewpoint the auto must also be pointed in the same direction, whereas where the road is depicted as extending parallel to the camera axis the auto must also point correspondingly. During such turning and/or-rocking movement of the foreground component, it is usually desirable that the main center of interest, generally actors associated with the foreground component, be shifted a minimum amount in relation to the camera axis, thus permitting such center of interest to remain centralized or to occupy the same portion of the picture throughout.

One object of the invention is to adjust the 55 position of the center about which a supported object such as an auto, boat or other motion picture prop is to be moved.

A further object of the invention is to support such an object at a plurality of points for movement about one of those points and to adjust the 5 position of that point.

A further object of the invention is to determine the correct positioning of a plurality of supporting wheels for supportingsuch an object for movement about different pivotal centers. 10

A further object is to facilitate raising and lowering a mobile platform adapted to support a vehicle or other motion picture prop without the inconvenience of placing a jack under the platform and removing it each time the plat- 5 form is raised and lowered.

A further object of the invention is to look a supportingwheel in adjustable angular positicn in relation to its bracket while permitting adjustable cushioned movement of the load car- 20 ried by the wheel.

A further object of the invention is to cushion the rocking movement of the platform while pivotally supporting the platform.

A further object of the invention is to adjust theposition of the platform relative to the pivotal support so that the center of interest of the object supported will be substantially in line with such pivotal support.

For a detailed description of a preferred em bodiment of the invention wherein the above and other objects are accomplished reference is had to the accompanying specification and drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an arrangement for producing a background projection composite motion picture and embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the movable support embodying the invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the support.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational View of the support and is taken along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevational view through the support and is taken along the lines 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevational view through one of the resilient wheel mounts, with a portion thereof in outline.

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view of the resilient mount and is taken along the lines 7'! of Fig. 6. I

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view taken along the lines 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a detailed elevational view of the auxiliary support, with parts in section.

Fig. 10 shows a card for determining the angular positions of the supporting wheels about their respective vertical axes in accordance with the position of the auxiliary support relative to the object supporting platform for permitting movement of the platform about the auxiliary support.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing an adjustable bracket secured to one of the wheel mounts for securing a rocking bar to the wheel mount.

As the first step in producing a composite motion picture of the background projection type a background key shot is made of the locality or scene in which the foreground action is to be ultimately depicted. This may be made either a still or a motion picture. In the case of a traveling shot in which the ultimate composite picture has been apparently photographed from a moving vehicle, the scene comprising the key shot is photographed from the rear of a moving camera car by a motion picture camera resulting, of course in a motion picture. The film thus obtained is later processed and supplied to a moving picture projector as indicated at it in Fig. 1. The background scene is then projected upon the rear of a suitable translucent screen H as at M. The foreground component, which in this case comprises an automobile l2 with an actor l3 seated therein, is provided in front of the screen H in correct position relative to the scene l4. That is, in the example illustrated, a road I5 is shown extending through the center of the picture. The car i2 is positioned directly before the picture of the road l5 so as to give the impression that the car was traveling along the road in the final composite picture. A motion picture camera It driven in synchronism with the projector Ill, is supported at a suitable height before the auto l2 so as to photograph the foreground component, comprising the auto l2 and the actor l3, and the background component M. The synchronous drive of the camera and projector may be effected through any suitable electrical or mechanical coupling as is well known in the art. During such photographic operation the car is jostled and turned in a manner to correspond with the depicted conditions of the road [5, thus simulating actual traveling conditions.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, the support comprises a stage or platform i'l including a pair of parallel runways i8 and 20, which runways are preferably formed of channels with the legs thereof extending upwardly to form wheel guides. Transversely extending beam members 2| and 22, also in the form of channels, are provided adjacent either end of the members [8 and 20, on the under surface thereof, and are suitably secured thereto as by welding to form a unitary piece. Directly under the lower surfaces of members l8 and 20 are a pair of strengthening channels 23 and 24, respectively, extending .parallel with members l8 and 20 and secured thereto as by welding. Brackets 25, 26, El and 23, also formed of channels are provided co-extensive with the beams 2| and 22 and on which are carried resilient wheel mounts 3!), 3t, 32 and 33, respectively. A wheel 34 on the lower end of each'of the wheel mounts 30 to 35, inclusive, is provided to supportthe stage ll from a floor or supporting surface 35.

Referring now to Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, each of the resilient wheel mounts 30 to 33, inclusive, comprises a casing or bearing member 36, having an annular flange 3'? formed thereon. Casing 36 extends through an opening 39 formed in each of the brackets 25 to 28, inclusive, and has the flange 3? thereof secured to the bracket by bolts 38. A counterbored bearing surface it is formed in the lower portion of the inner circumference of casing 36 in which is journaled a bushing 4!. An annular cap member 3-2, suitably secured to the lower surface of casing 36, as by screws 43, is provided to prevent endwise movement of the bushing along the bearing surface 4e. As indicated in Fig. 8 the inner surface of bushing ll is splined or fluted as at 3 5 to receive a complementarily formed portion t5 formed on a sleeve member #55. The complementarily formed portions i i and 55 on the bushing ii and sleeve member 15, respectively, permit a longitudinal sliding motion between these two members while preventing a relative rotation therebetween. An annular flange ll formed on the lower end of sleeve member it abuts a similar flange Q8 and is secured thereto by screws, one of which is shown at 50. The wheel 3 is carried upon a shaft 52, rotatably journaled within bearing brackets 53 and 5 depending from the flange 48 on either side of wheel 34. A stud member 55 extending longitudinally of the sleeve 46 is suitably secured to the central portion of the flange t? and has its upper end portion slidably received within a bearing it formed in a cap member 51. A pair of lock nuts 58 and 59 are threadably secured to the upper end portion of stud member 55 and are adapted to engage the top surface of the bearing 56 when no load is applied to stage H or when, for any other reason, the sleeve 46 is at the lower limit of its travel. Cap member 51- has a helical thread 68 formed on the outer circumference thereof which is adapted to engage a similar internal thread 5i formed in the upper portion of the inner circumference of casing 36. An annular well 62 is formed in the cap member 5? to receive a compression spring 63. Spring 63 engages at its lower end the flange 41 of sleeve member E6, and at its upper end the cap memberbl so as to resiliently support the bracket 25 upon its respective wheel. A handle 64 extends transversely through cap member 51 to permit the member 5? to be screwed up or down so as to vary the spring pressure between the bracket 25 and its respective wheel 34. The upper end of casing 36 is split as at 65 (Fig. '7)

with a pair of extending lug members 55 and 61 formed on either side of the split portion. A clamp screw $8 passes through the lug 6'! and is threadably secured within the other lug 66,; After the cap member 5? is screwed to a desired position, the clamp screw 68 is tightened to frictionally lock the member 51.

Referring to Fig. 8, the lower end portion of casing 35 is also split as at 59. A pair of lugs 10 and H are formed on the casing 36 on either side of the split $8.. A clamp screw 12, having a hand knob l3 thereon, is passed through an opening formed in lug ii and is threadably secured within the other lug it Tightening of the screw 72 frictionally locks the bushing ll in any angular position within the bearing surface 40 of the casing 36. I

Indicia i4 calibrated in degrees are formed along the outer circumference of the flanges 41 and 48, which co-act with a stationary reference point 15 formed on the cap member $2 to indicate the angular position of: the wheel 34 about a vertical axis in relation to the stage I1.

Referring now to Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 9, an auxiliary support is provided to support the stage I1 and comprises a pair of spaced, transversely extending channel members 18 and 19. Members 18 and 19 extend under the longitudinal runway channels I8 and 20 and are spaced apart by means of angle members 80, BI, 82, 83, 84, and 85, suitably secured thereto as by welding. It should be noted, however, that neither the members 18 and 19, nor the angle members 8| and 84 are secured to the channels I8 and 20. The angles 8I and 84 form guiding surfaces which are adapted to slide against the sides of the runway members I8 and 20, respectively. An inverted channel member extends between the two angle members 82 and 83 and has the legs thereof suitably secured to such members 82 and 83 as by welding. Brackets I24 and I25 extending outwardly from the under surface of each of the channel members 18 and 19 rotatably support rollers I26 and I21, respectively, which are adapted to support the auxiliary support from the channel members 23 and 24 when the auxiliary support is not supporting the stage I1. A look screw I28 (Fig. 2) is threaded into each of brackets I24 and I25 to lock the channels 18 and 19 to the channels l8 and 20. A pad 81 secured to the channel member 88 as by bolts 88 has a socket 89 formed thereon which receives a ball-shaped end portion 90 of a hydraulic jack piston 9I. Piston 9I is slidable within a cylinder 92 of an elevator or jack generally indicated at 93. Jack 93 may be of any suitable construction, but for the purpose of illustration, comprises a pump plunger 94 reciprocable within a plunger cylinder 95 formed in a casting 9B which also forms part of the piston cylinder 92. A conduit 91, having a spring pressed check valve 98 provided therein, communicates the plunger cylinder 95 with a piston cylinder 92. A conduit I00 co-extensive with the conduit 91 and also having a spring-pressed check valve I9I provided therein, communicates the plunger cylinder 95 with a fluid containing reservoir H32. On the upward stroke of the plunger 94 a portion of the fluid within reservoir I02 is drawn through the conduit I00, past the check valve I M, and into the plunger cylinder 95. On the downward stroke of the plunger 94, the fluid within the cylinder 95 is forced through the conduit 94, past the check valve 98, and into the piston cylinder 92, thus raising the piston 9I and consequently the platform I1. A conduit I04 communicating the cylinder 92 with the reservoir I02 has a normally closed valve I03 provided therein which is operated by a handle I05 (Fig. 5). When it is desired to release the jack the valve I04 is opened allowing the fluid to flow from the cylinder 92 to the reservoir I02. The plunger 94 is pivotally at-- tached at its upper end to an intermediate point on a horizontally extending link I01, one end of which is pivotally mounted on the upper end of u vertically extending link I08. The lower end oi link I08 is pivotally mounted upon a boss formed on the pump cylinder 92. The link I01 is also pivoted at i09 to a third link H9, which in turn is pivoted at I II upon an eccentric or crank disc H2 carried by a shaft H3. Shaft H3 is driven through a speed reduction unit I I4 by an electric motor H5. The reduction unit II4 comprises a worm gear II6 secured to shaft H3 and meshing .with a worm II1. Worm H1 is suitably secured t me sha t o m to Hi R t n o motor 5 3 iscontrolled by a suitable remote control switch (not shown) to rotate crank disc H2 and consequently cause a reciprocation of plunger 94 to pump the hydraulic fluid into the cylinder 92.

The jack 93 and motor I I5 are carried on a base II 8 which is adapted to rest on the supporting surface 35. Elastic cables I I9 are each secured at one end I20 to the corners or the base H8 and pass around freely rotatable pulley I2I rotatably carried by brackets I22 depending from the angle members 92 and 83. The other ends of the cables I 59 are secured at I23 to the angle members BI and 84 so as to resiliently urge the base II8 upwardly out of contact with the supporting surface 35 when the valve I04 (Fig. 9) of the jack 93 is opened.

In operation the cap member 51 of each of the resilient wheel mounts is screwed up or down to adjust the resiliency of the supporting spring 63 in accordance with the weight of the object to be supported and/or in accordance with the frequency and amount of rocking movement it is desired to impart to the object. Generally, for heavy objects or for small jerky movements of the object, the cap member 51 is screwed down thus compressing the spring 83 and making it stiiTer while for light objects, or where the rocking movement is to be of a slow, gentle, oscillating manner the pressure on the spring 63 is lightened by screwing the member 51 upward. In the event that the spring 63 does not permit a surficient range of resiliency for different weights of objects or different types of rocking movements, stiiTer or weaker springs may be substituted.

If the object to be supported during photography is a vehicle as in the illustration, it may be driven over a ramp (not shown) and onto the runways I8 and 20. However, if the object is of a different nature, for example a boat or a portion of a motion picture set, it may be supported on the runways I8 and 20 by a suitable cradle or framework (not shown).

The support is correctly positioned in front of the translucent screen in any suitable manner. For example, the wheels 34 may be employed by opening the valve [03 of jack 93 thus causing the jack to be released, permitting the cables II9 to retract the base II8 of the auxiliary support upwardly sumcient to allow the support to be wheeled to its correct position.

When the support is correctly positioned before the screen II or other background scene, the clamp screws I28 are released to permit the entire auxiliary support to be carried by the roll ers I21 on the lower flanges of the channels 23 and 24, in which condition the auxiliary support may be moved until the universal joint comprising the ball 90 and socket 89, assumes .a position directly under the main center of interest, which in this case is the actor I3 seated in the automobile I 2. The clamp screws I28 are then tightened and the jack 93 is raised a suflicient amount to partly support the load carried by the wheel mounts 30 to 33, inclusive.

In the event that the object is to be moved horizontally about the center of interest thereof, or in other words, about the ball 90, the wheels 34 are adjusted about the vertical axes of their respective wheel mounts until their turning radii coincide with the ball 90. This operation is facilitated by the use of a conjunction with a calibrated scale I3I, provided along the channel 20 (Fig. 2) and the scales 14 provided on each of wheel mounts 30 to 33, inclusive. The distance at which the universal joint comprising the ball 90 is offset from the middle of the runways I8 and 2D is determined by the reading of the scale I3I, calibrated in feet and inches from the middle of the runway 20, opposite a suitable reference mark on the auxiliary support. The column I33 of chart I is then referred to and the line thereon indicating the distance from the center or middle of the runways which coincides with the distance found on the scale I3I is noted. On the same line but in the next column I34 will be found the angular setting of the wheels nearest the pivot of the auxiliary support, while in the last column I of the same line will be found the angular setting of the wheels farthest from the pivot. For example, in the illustration the ivot center is found on reference to the scale I3I to be nine inches on one side of the middle of the runways I8 and 20. The reading 54 10 in the column I34 on the same line thus indicates the settings of the Wheels carried by the near wheel mounts 3G and 3|, these settings being determined by the scales I4 in reference to their respective index points I5. Correspondingly, the settings of the wheels carried by the far wheel mounts 32 and 33 will be found in the last column I35 to be 61 2.

During photographing the support and the object supported thereby are rocked and otherwise moved by attendants through bars I36 and I3! (Fig. l) securely fastened in any suitable manner to the under surface of the channels 2I, 22, 23 or 24.

Fig. 11 shows an adjustable bracket I38 for securing a rocking bar I36 to a casing 36 of each of the wheel mounts 30 to 33, inclusive, instead of to the channels 2| to 24, inclusive. Bracket I38 comprises a split sleeve I39 having lugs I40 and MI projecting therefrom on either side of. the split portion of the sleeve. A clamping bolt I42 passes through an aperture in the lug I40 and is threaded in the other lug IM to clamp the sleeve I39 in any angular position about the casing 35. A projection I43 extending from the sleeve I39 has a socket provided therein for receiving one end of the bar I33.

In certain types of photographic shots, for example, where it is not necessary or desirable that a certain point of the object be given a minimum amount of rocking movement, the jack 93 of the auxiliary support may be released allowing the cables H9 to support the base II8 clear of the floor and permitting the entire weight of the support and the supported object to be carried by the wheels 34.

Furthermore, where the type of photography requires a lateral or longitudinal shift of the object or foreground component, the base II8 of the auxiliary support may be raised clear of the floor and the wheels 34 all directed parallel to the direction in which the object is to be moved.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A support comprising the combination of an object supporting stage, means for supporting said stage from a floor, a jack connected to said stage and adapted to rest stationary on said floor, a motor connected to said jack for operating said jack to raise said stage, and means operative on release of said jack to raise said jack and said motor clear of. said floor.

2. A support comprising the combination of an object supporting stage, wheels for supporting said stage from a supporting surface, a jack car- I 32 provided riage movable along said stage, a jack connected to said carriage at a point above the level of said stage and adapted to rest stationary on said surface, a motor and pump operatively connected to said jack for operating said jack to raise said stage, and resilient means responsive to the release of said jack for raising said jack and said motor and said pump clear of said surface.

3. A support comprising the combination, with a supporting stage including a pair of parallel bar members and Wheels for supporting said members from a supporting surface, of a supporting frame for supporting said members, an elevator device connected to said frame above the level of said bar members and adapted to rest on said surface, to raise said frame, means interconnecting said elevator device and said frame and adapted 'to raise said elevator device clear of said surface, and means for supporting said frame on said members when said elevator device is retracted, said last mentioned means permitting adjustment of said frame along said members.

4. A support in accordance with claim 3 wherein a pivotal connection is provided between said elevator device and said frame.

5. A support comprising the combination, with an object supporting stage including a pair of parallel bar members having a vehicle track above a jack track and wheels for supporting said members from a supporting surface, of a supporting frame associated with said members, a jack connected to said frame above the level of said bar members and adapted to be supported on said surface for raising said frame to raise said stage, means for raising said jack from said surface and for supporting said jack by said frame, and rollers rotatably carried by said frame and adapted to rest on said jack track when said jack is supported by said frame whereby said frame may be moved along said bar members.

6. A support comprising the combination of an object supporting stage, a frame associated with said stage, means comprising a base with a motor, pump and jack thereon for raisingsaid frame to raise said stage, means for supporting said base by said frame, rollers rotatably carried by said frame and adapted to rest on said stage when said first mentioned means is supported by said frame, said rollers permitting said frame to be adjusted along said stage.

'7. A support comprising an object carrying member, a plurality of wheels for supporting said member from a floor, means whereby each of said wheels may be moved about a vertical axis, a stationary support for additionally supporting said member from said floor, a pivotal connection between said stationary support and said member whereby said member is adapted to be moved about said connection, means whereby said member is adapted to be adjustably positioned relative to said connection to change the center of rotation of said member, indicia co-operating with said member to indicate the position thereof relative to said pivotal connection, and means co-opcrating with said indicia for determining the angular positions of said wheels about their respective vertical axes, whereby the centers of vertical turning radius of said wheels coincide with said pivotal connection. 7

8. A support comprising a load carrying member, a plurality of wheels for supporting said member and resilient means intermediate each of said wheels and said member, said means comprising a vertically extending bearing, a sleeve rotatably journaled in said bearing, a member supported by one of said wheels, said member being slidable within said sleeve, means for preventing relative rotation between said member and said sleeve, resilient means acting longitudinally between said bearing and said last mentioned member, and means adapted to lock said sleeve in a predetermined angular position relative to said bearing.

9. A support in accordance with claim 8 wherein means are provided for adjustably varying the resilience of said resilient means.

10. A resilient connection for supporting an object upon a wheel comprising a bearing member, a sleeve rotatably journaled in said member, means for preventing longitudinal movement between said sleeve and said member, an element supported by said wheel and slidable longitudinally in said sleeve, means for preventing relative rotation between said element and said sleeve, a spring retaining member carried by said bearing member, a compression spring between said element and said spring retaining member, said spring retaining member being adjustable toward and away from said element, and means for looking said sleeve in relation to said bearing member.

11. A support comprising a frame having channel side and end members, said end channel members extending laterally beyond said side members, a plurality of wheels, means in each laterally extended portion of said end members for supporting one of said wheels for rotation about a vertical axis, resilient means for each of said wheels, means for locking each of said wheels in a selected angular position about its vertical axis, a carriage movable along said side members, a motor, pump and jack unit movable with said carriage, a pivotal connection between said jack and said carriage at a point above the level of said side members, means supporting said unit from said carriage when said jack is retracted, and cooperating indicia associated with said pivotal connection and with said wheels for adjusting the centers of vertical turning radius of said wheels to coincide with said pivotal connection.

BYRON C. HASKIN. 

